Olympus On My Mind: Old-Fashioned Musical Comedy Fun

Musical theatre aficionados are buzzing about the Town Players of New Canaan’s revival of Olympus On My Mind. This dazzling, musical spoof opens at the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny Park on April 24 and runs for three weekends

“We wanted to do a good old-fashioned musical that was pure fun and yet hadn’t been endlessly recycled,” says TPNC Co-President Sheri Dean. “Olympus On My Mind fills that bill. As soon as you hear the opening bars, you know you’re in for a good time.”

With book and lyrics by Barry Harman and music by Grant Sturiale, Olympus is based on the Greek myth of Amphitryon and tells how Jupiter comes to Earth to woo the beautiful Alcmene, appearing in the form of her absent husband, General Amphitryon. Jupiter discovers that he’s capable of human emotions, and falls in love. All goes swimmingly until the real Amphitryon returns.

Olympus features slapstick physical comedy, mistaken identities, tap dancing, a hat-and-cane production number, a hand-clapping gospel song, and ballads with lovely lyrics and hummable melodies.

Director Tom Butterworth hopes to match the audience-pleasing success of Lend Me A Tenor, which he directed at the Powerhouse last summer. He also plays the lead role of Jupiter. His co-director and choreographer is Lauren Nicole Sherwood, who recently directed Seussical at Saxe Middle School. Musical Director Jerold Goldstein is well-known to area audiences and has received permission to use special arrangements so the Powerhouse production can use a four-piece orchestra.

The Olympus cast also features familiar favorites as well as newcomers to TPNC, and includes Anya Caravella, James Hisey II, Emily Hull, Chris Kozlowski, Daniel Mann, Kevin Sell, Levi Squier, and Melinda Zupaniotis.

Other offstage contributors include Janet Adams, Robert Doran, Meredith Bihl, Gwen Bihl, Ray Stephens, Joseph Re, Jeff Klein, Lena Hinrichs, Linda Simon, Katey Henninger, Cheryl Petrone and Sheri Dean.

Performances take place at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from April 24 to May 9, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays April 26 and May 3. Tickets are $25/$20 for seniors and students. For more information and tickets, please visit www.tpnc.org, or call the TPNC Box Office at 203-966-7371.

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Photo Credits: Tom Hughey

Anya Caravella as the vastly untalented Delores, only in the show because her husband ”Murray the Furrier” is backing the show.

Chris Kozlowski as Mercury, Melinda Zupaniotis as Charis, and Kevin Sell as Sosia.

Tom Butterworth as Jupiter, who has come to earth to woo the beautiful Alcmene, played by Emily Skala Hull.